This week, French President Emmanuel Macron called for the CSDDD to be “taken off the table,” echoing an earlier statement by German Chancellor Merz – although that statement was clarified by Merz’s spokesperson as an intention to streamline or slim down (“verschlanken”) the CSDDD, not abolish it.
While this back-and-forth is undeniably discouraging and concerning – especially coming from the highest representatives of the EU’s largest economies – it is important to remember that these are politically motivated statements, not legal decisions. They fail to reflect the practical realities many companies face or the public sentiment toward corporate sustainability in those countries, and they also do not align with what constitutes business sense or smart risk management.
Nevertheless, these headline-grabbing statements may prompt more questions by senior management. And if you’re a corporate sustainability professional, this is a great time to read our “Eight Strategies for Sustainability Leaders to Make Progress in Difficult Times”.
Many business leaders now find themselves in uncharted territory, needing to be more resourceful, creative and resilient than ever to keep responsible business practices moving forward. This is why, based on our work with business professionals navigating similar challenges, we’ve gathered eight practical tips to help you advance human rights in your organization.
This is neither the first nor likely the last time that politics will interfere with agreed-upon corporate sustainability regulations.
So, let’s stay focused: human rights due diligence is not going away. CSDDD is a huge step forward and it must stay, but the obligations around human rights due diligence extend well beyond the Directive.
Here is a list of laws and regulations around the world that require companies to undertake due diligence: The Legal Case for Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) – Beyond the Omnibus.
In moments of political uncertainty, the power of the collective becomes even more visible. In the last few weeks, numerous businesses, civil society and investors made joint statements supporting the CSDDD. Here are a few examples:
In addition, a very insightful interview with two brilliant German corporate sustainability lawyers Michaela Streibelt and Daniel Schönfelder was published by amfori this week: What’s next for the LkSG and CSDDD? Making sense of the German coalition’s announcement
Forward-thinking, responsible businesses will continue to carry out meaningful human rights due diligence, regardless of the outcome of the omnibus process or the influence of politically motivated statements. Even for organizations primarily driven by compliance, taking action on human rights risk management sooner rather than later is a smart and strategic move.
Cecilia for the CORE team
